VANCOUVER, June 19, 2014 /CNW/ - While yoga studios and fitness centers are certainly one place people can go to experience the many benefits of yoga, more Canadian businesses are choosing to bring corporate yoga into their workplace as part of an ongoing wellness program.

According to Health Canada, work-related stress costs Canadian taxpayers an estimated $2.8 billion annually in physician visits, hospital stays, and emergency room visits. And burnout costs Canadian businesses an estimated $12 billion each year in health claims, lost productivity and absenteeism, according to the Conference Board of Canada. Canadian businesses are realizing that something must be done about this problem.

Employee satisfaction is also an important consideration for any business owner, and management knows how important it is to keep their staff happy and well. According to an August 2013 study by the American Psychological Association, 77% percent of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress and 76% percent cited money and work as the leading cause of their stress.

At a corporate yoga class, employees literally roll out their yoga mats in a boardroom or unused office space, and the yoga teacher comes to their office once or twice a week at the agreed upon time. Staff who participate in an on-site yoga program say the classes have made a huge difference in their busy work week in as little as just 45 minutes a week.

For every $1 invested in workplace wellness, a company can typically expect $3 in cost savings or benefits, according to the University of Michigan Research Centre.

"The yoga classes I attend are affordable and convenient," says Linda Meyers a client of Innergy Corporate Yoga in Vancouver, BC. "In today's business world, with meetings, conference calls, volume, economic concerns and general stress associated to these, having yoga at least once per week has become a bright light. . . . We all need a little time just for ourselves and this is one way to reward yourself for a job well done!"

"Corporate Yoga is convenient, inexpensive and a great solution for companies looking for a way to shrink the problem of workplace stress," says Lynn Roberts, President of Innergy Corporate Yoga, a company that is leading the way in Canada for corporate yoga.

Innergy has been providing onsite yoga classes to businesses since 2004. Their service includes professional management, experienced teachers and perks for clients including a rewards program. They have currently serviced over 3000 customers in the past ten years and are growing quickly with their yoga franchise opportunity.